Heat Transfer in Aerospace Applications

Chapter 9

Microgravity Heat Transfer

Abstract

The importance of reduced gravity on heat transfer processes is highlighted. In particular, solidification, melting, single-phase convection, condensation, and evaporation are discussed. A detailed analysis of microgravity effects on cryogenic liquid hydrogen tanks is presented.

Keywords

Boiling; Condensation; Cryogenic tanks; Microgravity; Solidification

9.1. Introduction

Microgravity is an environment where effects of gravity are small. The topic of microgravity is very relevant to aerospace applications. To the public, it is known as a weightless state. However, heat transfer under microgravity differs significantly from that under normal gravity. Heat conduction in solids and liquids is not affected ...